Learn how to do veneer repairs and keep your home looking great. Peeling or loose wood veneer can really get on your nerves. And if it’s not fixed, it just gets worse. Find out how to repair veneer kitchen cabinets, furniture, and tables quickly and easily!
Veneer is simply a very thin piece of high-quality wood or other material used to cover the end of plywood or other less attractive wood underneath. Furniture veneer repair is not very difficult since it’s more or less a matter of re-gluing or replacing the loose veneer. Below are some tips to help you get started.
Let’s look at fixing the veneer on the front edge of a cabinet. If the veneer strip is not broken and has just come loose, you can simply re-glue it. If it has cracked or broken, you will need to replace the damaged section.
- Start by identifying the type of wood the existing veneer is made of and then try to find veneer material that is as close as possible to the original. If the piece is to be painted, this is not as critical.
- Cut the damaged veneer material just beyond the damaged area so that you have a nice clean transition from old to new. Use a straight edge and cut across the grain with multiple passes of a razor knife until the piece comes loose.
- Scrape away as much of the old glue as possible and dust off.
- Measure and cut the new piece of veneer material. Note: you may want to leave the edges of the new veneer piece just a bit too long and then cut them flush with the sides of the wood after it is glued on.
- Apply wood glue to the back of the new piece of veneer and put it in place. Use edge clamps or similar tools to apply the pressure needed.
- When the glue has set, carefully shave any overhanging edges with a sharp cutter knife or chisel, then sand the area with 220-grit or higher sandpaper to remove rough edges.
- Finally, stain the new veneer to match the existing finish and, after that is dry, apply a coat of urethane. Alternatively, paint the repaired area to match.
That’s it. It’s really something any DIYer can do. Now for larger surfaces, such as a tabletop or desktop that is heavily damaged, you may want to finish as a painted surface. That way, you can use wood filler or autobody filler to create a nice smooth surface (after sanding of course) and then paint it.
Of course, your veneer patch is only as durable as your adhesive, so choose wisely. Loctite Extreme Glue is the right choice if you are looking for a tough, durable bond that dries crystal clear. This durable glue is resistant to water, extreme temperatures, and shrinkage for a long-lasting bond indoors or out. It is also paintable and can be applied to almost any surface without all the mess.
If the veneer area that is to be glued is very small (the size of a fingernail), try a product like Loctite Super Glue Gel Control. It works quickly and holds stronger than ordinary instant adhesives. It will bond to almost any surface and sets quickly without the need for clamping .
For all kinds of adhesives, be aware of the risk that the glue might bleed through due to the very low thickness of veneer.